Bottle washer



May 31, 1938.

T. WILKINSON ET AL BOTTLE WASHER Filed Feb. 26, 1957 All May 31, 1938. T. T. WILKINSON ET AL BOTTLE WASHER Filed Feb. 26; 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 2 7.7 ILK/ by 2. 0. 500 ,45

May 31, 1938. 'r. T. WILKINSON 1'-.-r AL 2,119,191

BOTTLE WASHER Filed Feb. 26, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /NV[/V70R5. 7T 7? mum/vs ON 5. D. 5006/7 TON. v

Patented May 31, 1938 UNITED I STATES BOTTLE WASHER Thomas Telford Wilkinson and Samuel Dudley Boughton, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application February 26, 1937, Serial No. 127,946

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in bottle washers, and the object of the invention is to devise a continuous conveyor mechanism which will carry the bottles successively down to the bottom of an alkali bath and then carry them up out of the bath to the discharge point and by which the bottles are automatically rinsed before discharging, and it consists essentially of the ar-- rangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Fig. 1 is an exterior perspective view of the washer looking at the discharge side, the exterior driving mechanism being removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of the endless spiral guide flange.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view looking at the reverse side of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of our device with the cover removed.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side View of the bottle carrier.

Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6 looking at the end of the carrier.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the diiferent views.

I indicates the alkali tank having a cover 2 and discharge and receiving orifices 3 and 4 respectively in the side of the tank. Within the tank I is an endless spiral conveyor comprising two vertical and parallel tubes 5 and 6. I is an ascending spiral flange extending around the periphery of the tube 5 and 8 is a descending spiral flange extending around the periphery of r the tube 6. The lower ends of the flanges 1 and 8 are connected by a horizontal straight guide plate 9 having a vertical flange guide wall ID on its inner side. The upper ends of the flanges I and 8 are connected together by a horizontal straight guide plate ll having a vertical flange wall [2 on its outer edge. 1

I3 is a plateformed integral with the tubes 5 and 6. The plate fits the tank I and holds the tubes 5 and 6 in place. which is wound on the tube 5 following the flange 1 thereof and then passing over the plates 9 and II and is then wound around the tube 6 following the descending spiral flange 8. The links of the chain I4 are provided with lugs I4 (see Fig. 6) having perforations l4.

l5 are the bottle carriers in which the bottles [6 are laid resting on rollers I! and I8, such rollers travelling over the flanges I, 8, 9 and I and revolving to revolve the bottles Hi. The

M is an endless chain carriers are provided with hooks I passing freely through the perforations |4.

The chainsare driven by the sprockets I9 and secured to the shafts 2| and 22 mounted in bearings 25 and 26, 21 and 28. The shaft 2| is driven by a suitable motor coupled thereto as indicated at 29, the shaft 22 being driven from the shaft 2| by the sprocket gears and 3| and connecting chain 32.

33 is a tubular bar, a portion of which is perforated. The upper turn of the flange 1 is inclined as indicated at 34 so that the bottle carriers and bottles incline downwardly, the bottle mouths resting on the tubular bar 33 so as to support the bottles while the rinsing water is injected thereinto and allow the rinsing water to drain out as the bottles pass into the water receiving tank 33 to the discharge 3.

As the bottles descend into the alkali, they pass over the upwardly inclined portion 35 to allow the air to pass out of the bottles as they descend beneath the liquid level.

To ensure of the tubes remaining in place, pivoted locking pieces 36 are provided fitting into the slots 31 forced therein by the screw spindles 38.

The bottles are placed in the carriers through the orifice 4. The chains I4,' driven by the sprockets l9 and 2|], pass over the plate portion II and pass down the descending spiral 8 carrying the bottles into the cleaning liquid as they pass over the upwardly inclined portion 35.

The bottles, having descended to the bottom of the spiral 8, pass along the plate portion 9 and up the ascending spiral l and, as they pass out of the fluid, they are inclined downward at 36 to empty them of the cleaning fluid and, as they pass over the upper convolution of the ascending spiral, they are again inclined downwardly to receive the rinsing water as above described.

As the bottles come to the end of the inclined portion 34, they come opposite to the discharge orifice 3 and slide out of the carrier into the inclined chute 31 dropping into the pockets 38 of the member 39 rotating in the cylindrical container 40. Each bottle, as it drops into a pocket 38, falls onto the inclined bottom 38 thereof with the mouth of the bottle facing inward. As the member 39 rotates, the bottom end of the bottle comes opposite to the discharge opening 4| passing therethrough into the chute 42. The bottle then slides down the chute 42, bottom first, onto the conveyor 43. The force of this downward movement up-ends each bottle as it drops onto the conveyor 43 throwing it to a vertical position against the cushion 44.

Although we have described our device for the washing of bottles, it may be used for many other purposes such as the cooking of tinned meats and vegetables, the tins being passed through the boiling liquid at the desired rate to perform the cooking operation.

What we claim as our invention is:-

1. A bottle washer and the like comprising a liquid container having semi-circular ends and parallel connecting walls, a vertical cylindrical support concentric with each container end, a spiral flange extending around each cylindrical support and concentric with the semi-circular ends of the container and horizontal connecting flange portions connecting the upper and lower ends of the spiral flanges on opposite sides of the cylindrical supports to form a continuous endless unbroken open runway forming a bottom support, carriers extending transversely of the flange and adapted to continuously contact therewith as they travel thereover, and means for flexibly connecting the carriers together to travel in the same direction around the cylindrical supports.

2. A bottle washer and the like comprising a liquid container, vertical cylindrical supports within the container, a spiral flange extending around each cylindrical support, horizontal connecting flange portions connecting the upper and lower ends of the spiral flanges on opposite sides of the cylindrical supports to form a continuous endless unbroken runway forming a bottle support, carriers extending transversely of the flange and adapted to continuously contact therewith as they travel thereover, and means for flexibly connecting the carriers together to travel in the same direction around the cylindrical supports. THOMAS TELFORD WILKINSON. SAMUEL DUDLEY BOUGHTON. 

